A Thanksgiving Day feast for Annapolis' homeless

Last year, Tonier Cain and a group of volunteers spent Thanksgiving Day going under bridges and into the woods trying to feed Annapolis' homeless. This year, they will be doing more of the same, except on a larger scale and with a venue. Whole Foods has provided turkeys, yams, potatoes and other supplies for this week's effort. They also have a place to go - the Stanton Center.

Last year, Tonier Cain and a group of volunteers spent Thanksgiving Day going under bridges and into the woods trying to feed Annapolis' homeless.

This year, they will be doing more of the same, except on a larger scale and with a venue. Whole Foods has provided turkeys, yams, potatoes and other supplies for this week's effort. They also have a place to go — the Stanton Center.

Advertisement

"I do it because I was one of them," said Cain, who was once homeless and is founder of the Arnold-based Neen Cares, Inc. "I know what it feels like to be out there on Thanksgiving Day and not feeling like I could go into some of these places because I felt so dirty. I just wanted to be able to feel safe and be safe and feel like there's hope."

On Monday, Cain's fiance, Adrian Muldrow, and Weems Creek Church volunteers Ken and Kathy Kenney met at Whole Foods to pick up the groceries. From there, other church volunteers were expected to pick up items and cook them at their home. They will bring them to the Stanton Center on Thursday, where they expect to feed up to 100 people. There will also be kits with toothpaste, soap, and other supplies provided. Now there trying to spread the word about where to go on Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"I was homeless. I was less fortunate," Muldrow said, adding that often, people have to decide between paying rent and buying groceries. "This can happen to anybody. Tonier was homeless for 19 years."

Cain, whose nickname is Neen, grew up in Annapolis' Clay Street community. She endured abuse and a drug addiction that eventually led her to a life of crime. She was homeless for 19 years and was in and out of jail until 2004, when she gave birth to her youngest child. She worked with Tamar Inc., which helps paroled women raise their children. Through that effort, she received therapy that helped her understand her abuse was the main reason behind her drug use, she told The Capital in 2010.

Since then, she's been subject of the documentary "Healing Neen" and a book of the same name. Her nonprofit aims to educate the community and provide resources and treatment to trauma survivors.

Last year, Cain partnered with her church, Weems Creek Church, to provide supplies to the homeless on Thanksgiving Day. The group wound up distributing 40 meals and kits made up of toothbrushes, towels and soap.

For this year's event, Cain reached out to Coca Cola and Whole Foods, which then provided drinks and groceries. She wanted to have the event at the Bloomsbury Square community center since it is near the bridge where a lot of the homeless are located, but could not get approval. Muldrow then called Mayor Mike Pantelides' office, which arranged for the dinner to be at the Stanton Center. The facility is also the annual venue for We Care & Friends' annual Thanksgiving feast, which was held Monday.

"If the city has the resources to help them and it doesn't cost us financially, I wanted to do whatever I can," Pantelides said. "We're there to help the people. That's the job of government."

For now, fliers are being distributed about the event. Plans are also being made for similar efforts for Christmas and future holidays.

"I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and just having the opportunity to be able to do this," Cain said. "If this can grow from last year to this year and every year, I can't imagine what we can do to make a difference in Annapolis and the surrounding area."